Veterinary&#39;s portable operating table



Malrch 17, 1953 w, J, BEACH 2,631,568

VETERINARY'S PORTABLE OPERATING TABLE M Filed Dec. 29, 1950 l V2` SHEETS-SHEET l March 17, 1953 w, J, BEAl-l VETERINARYS PORTABLE OPERATING TABLE Filed D60. 29, 1950 WN. WN

Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE VETERINARYS P'IQR,

TABLE OPERATING 3 Claims.

This invention relates to veterinarias operating tables and more particularly to a portable operating table equipped with a movable clamp for securing an animal in operative position on the table.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved operating table which is wheel supported for easy movement from place to place but is firmly supported on its legs when in use; which is equipped with a movable animal holding clamp and manually operated levers for moving the clamp and releasably locking it in various positions of adjustment; which includes a spring balanced clamp capable of exerting substantially equal pressure on different parts of an animal body; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to use, and positive and effective in operation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a veterinarys operating table illustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1; A

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3- -3 of Figure l Figure 4 is a fragmentary of the table; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the line 5 5 of Figure 4.

With continued reference to the drawings, the table comprises a rectangular frame IIJ formed of suitable lengths of structural angle iron of convenient size and including four spaced apart and substantially parallel legs II, I2, I3 and I 4, the legs l l and I2 constituting the front and the legs I3 and I4 the rear legs of the table when the table is considered inrelation to its use. Four f top rails l5, i6, I'I and I8 are secured together at their abutting ends to constitute a rectangular and kpreferably substantially square structure and this rectangular upper structure is secured at its corners to the legs II and I4 inclusive by suitable means, such as Welding. A lower front rail I9 extends between the front legs II and I2 near the lower ends of these legs and substantially parallel to the upper front rail I5.

A lower side rail 22 extends between the front leg I2 and the rear leg I3 of the frame near the lower ends of these legs and substantially parallel to the upper side rail I6 and a similar lower side rail 23 extends between the front leg I I and rear elevational view the rear leg I4 near the lower ends of these legs and substantially parallel to the upper side rail i8. The lower side rails 22 and 23 are secured at their ends to the legs by suitable means, such as welding, and the upper rail structure is secured to the rear legs at the upper ends ofthe latter by similar means.

Immediately below the lower side rails 22 and 23 the rear legs I3 and I4 are provided each with an aperture in its side flange and an axle 25 extends through these apertures and is secured to the rear legs of the frame. Wheels 25 and 2'? are journaled on the axle 25, one at each end or the axle and immediately insidey of the adjacent frame legs I4 and I3 for supporting the table for movement from place to place.

The distance from the center of the axle 25 to the lower ends of the rear legs I3 and iii is slightly greater than the maximum radius of the wheels 26 and 21 so that, when the table is in upright position, as illustrated in Figures l and 2, the lower ends of the four legs are in direct engagement with the ground or other horizontal supporting surface to firmly and rigidly support the table in upright position against accidental movement, the wheels being at or slightly above the surface of the ground under this condition. When it is desired to move the table it is tilted rearwardly until the wheels areA brought into engagement with the ground or the supporting surface and the lower ends of the rear legs lifted above the supporting surface. The table may then be easily moved from place to place.

An intermediate rail 28 extends between the rear legs 3 and I4 of the frame adjacent the mid-height location of these legs and substantially parallel to the upper rear rail I7.

Guideway assemblies 3D and 3| are mounted on the rear upper and intermediate rails Ii and 28 respectively at the outer sides and substantially at the mid-length locations of these rails and are disposed substantially in vertical alignment with each other. Each of these assemblies comprises a rectangular plate, as indicated at 32 and 35i respectively, secured to the corresponding rails by bolts, as indicated at 34 and 35, with apertured spacers or washers, as indicated at 3E, receiving the bolts and disposed one at each end of the correspondingplate to provide between them and between the plate and the adjacent surface of the corresponding rail a rectangular opening. l

A flat table top 3l, formed of suitable material such as wooden boards, is secured on the upper end of the table frame and preferably projects slightly outwardly of the top rails at the front and sides of the table, as is particularly illustrated in Figure 2.

An elongated standard 38 of rectangular cross sectional shape is slid-ably mounted in the guideway assemblies 35 and 3l and extends above the table top 31.

An upper crossbar 3S is rigidly secured substantially at its mid-length location to the upper end of the standard 38 and extends to the opposite sides of the standard substantially parallel to the rear edge of the table top- A lower crossbar 4Q is pivotally connected substantially at its mid-length location to the standard 38 below the upper crossbar 33 by suitable means, su-ch as the pivot bolt 4I. This lower crossbar is preferably disposed at the front side of the standard 38 and substantially in a plane parallel to the front and rear edges of the table top.

Animal holding arms 42 and d3 are provided each at one end with a rectangular formation having therein a rectangular opening slidably receiving the lower crossbar 40 which is of elongated rectangular cross sectional shape. These arms are disposed one at each opposite side of the standard 3B and are .slidably movable along the lower crossb'ar toward and away from the standard to various positions of adjustment relative to the standard and to each other. These, arms extend from the lower -crossbar i5 substantially perpendicular to the lower crossbar over the table topl 31 and are preferably slightly bowed upwardly, as illustrated in Figure 2. These arms are preferably formed of a resilient material, such. as spring steel, and have adequate strength tormly hold a small animal on the table topwhile their edges and corners are smoothly rounded to avoid injury to the animal. If desired, these arms may be padded with resilient material to further protect the animals from injury.

Apertured lugs d'4 and 45 project rearwardly from the lower crossbar 4i), one at each side of the standard S3 and at substantially equal distances from. the Apivot bolt 4I. The upper cross- S is provided with apertures, one near each eno. thereof, and a rod 45 extends slidably 'through the aperture in the lug it and through the aperture near the corresponding end of the upper crossbar 35, being bent over to provide a head portion 4i' bearing on the upper surface of the upper -crossbar and having a nut dii threaded onto its end disposed below the lug 4d. A similar rod de extends slidably through the lug d5 and through the aperture near the corresponding end of the upper crossbar and coiled compression springs 55 and Y5I surround the rods I5 and 49 respectively between the lugs lid and d5 and the upper crossbar 39 to spring balance the lower crossbar dii or, in other words, resiliently resist pivotal movement of this lower crossb-ar relative to the standard 38 so that the arms d2 and 43 will maintain pressure on an animal body supported on the table while being movable relative to the standard torcompensate for diierences in the thickness of the diierent portions of an animal body engaged by the arms.

Thus, if the animal body is thicker at one location than at the other, the lower crossbar 48 will tilt sufficiently to accommodate the distance of the arms i2 and "43 from the table top to the variationandthickness of the animal body.

A pair of spaced apart, apertured lugs v52 and 53 project from the front side of the rear intermediate railnear the mid-length location of thisrail and `opposite `the guideway assembly 3l 4 and a lever 5d is pivotally connected at one end to these lugs by a pivot pin 55 extending through registering apertures in the lugs and the adjacent end of the lever. Similar lugs 56 and 51 extend from the inner side of the intermediate rail 28 near the rear leg I3 and a lever 58 is pivotally connected at one end to these lugs by a pivot pin 53 extending through registering apertures in the lug and the corresponding end of the lever. The levers 54 and 58 extend through the frame and project somewhat beyond the front side oi the frame so that their distal ends can be engaged by a foot oi a person using the table and depressed.

An arm 5t projects perpendicularly from the front side of the standard 3B between the rails I1 and 25 and the end of this arm remote from the standard is connected to the lever 54 by a link 6I pivotally connected at one end to the arm 60 at the distal end of the latter and pivotally connested at its other end to the lever 54 intermediate the length of the lever. A notch bar '52 is secured at its upper end to the iront top rail I5 and at its lower end to the bottom iront rail I9 adjacent the mid-length location of these rails so that it extends along the front side of the frame substantially parallel to the front legs `II and i2. Downwardly inclined notches 53 are provided along one edge of this notch bar and the lever 3i?, is disposed against this notched side of the notch bar and provided with an oiset formation in its upper edge which engages with the notches S3 to hold the lever 54 in various positions of adjustment.

Cable sheave brackets 66 and B1 are secured to the under side of the table top 31, one above the arm 9 and one above the lever 58 and cable sheaves 63 and 10 are respectively journaled in these brackets. A cable 1I is connected at one end to the arm Sil by being passed through an aperture 1;? provided in the arm intermediate the length thereof and is carried over the sheaves 63 and 1G and connected at its other end to the lever 58 by being looped through an aperture 13 lprovided in the lever 58 intermediate the length of the latter. The front leg I2 of the frame adjacent which the lever 58 is disposed, is provided immediately above the front lower rail I9 with a downwardly inclined notch 14 and the lever 53 is provided in its upper edge with an offset 1,5 engageable in this notch to releasably hold the lever 15 in a depressed condition.

In using the device, the lever 54 is freed from the notches 53 and the distal end of the lever 58 is manually forced down and the offset 15 engaged in the notch 14. Moving the lever 58 downwardly pulls on the cable 1I and pulls the arm upwardly toward the table top 31, thus raising the arms 42 and i3 to their limiting position away from the table top, as indicated by broken lines in Figure 2. An animal is then placed on the table top and under the arms 42 and 43 and the lever 53 disengaged from the notch 14 and permitted to raise until the arms descend into contact withfthe animal. Downward pressure is then manually applied to the distal end of the lever 54 until suiiicient pressure is exerted by the animal holding arms on the animal to firmly hold the animal on the table. The offset 64 of the lever 54 is then engaged in the appropriate notch 63 and the animal is held captive on the table for operation or treatment. When it is desired to release the animal the lever 54 is disengaged from the notches in the notch bar 62 and the distal end of the lever 58 again depressedtoraise the arms 42 and'43.

accises With this table, one man can easily and rapidly treat or operate on small animals, such as pigs and lambs, without diliiculty.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential .characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A veterinarys operating table comprising a rectangular frame including legs and top and bottom rails connected to said legs and holding the latter in position relative to each other, a table top secured on the upper end of said frame, an axle mounted on the legs at one side of said frame near the lower :ends of said legs, Wheels journaled on said axle one at each end thereof, an intermediate rail secured to the legs at one side of said frame, means secured to said intermediate rail and the corresponding top rail of said frame and constituting guideways mutually aligned along the mid-width location of said one side of the frame, a standard slidably mounted in said guideways and extending above said table top, an upper crossbar fixedly secured intermediate its length to the upper end of said standard, a lower crossbar pivotally secured intermediate its length to said standard below said upper crossbar, springs interposed between said upper and lower crossbars resiliently resisting pivotal movement of said lower crossbar relative to said standard, animal engaging arms extending from said lower crossbar over said table top and disposed at respectively opposite sides of said standard, levers pivotally secured each at one end to said frame at said one side of the latter and extending through said frame and beyond the side thereof opposite said one side, link means connecting said standard to one of said levers for movement of said arms toward said table top upon manual depression of the distal end of said one lever, a notched bar secured to said frame and engaged by said one lever to releasably hold the latter in various positions of adjustment, and flexible means connecting said standard to the other of said levers for movement of said arms to a limiting position away from said table top upon manual depression of the distal end of said other lever,

the frame leg adjacent said other lever having a notch therein in which said other lever engages to releasably hold said arms in said limiting position away from said table top.

2. A veterinarys operating table comprising a rectangular frame adapted to be disposed in uprightrposition and having a front and a back side, a table top on the upper end of said frame, guideway assemblies on the back side of said frame mutually aligned in spaced apart relationship substantially along the mid-width location of said back side, a standard slidably mounted in said guideway assemblies and extending above said table top, a crossbar pivotally connected intermediate its length to said standard above said table top, animal holding arms mounted each at one end of said crossbar for movements of adjustment longitudinally of the latter and extending from said crossbar over said table top at respectively opposite sides of said standard, spring means acting between said crossbar and said standard resiliently resisting pivotal movement of said crossbar relative to said standard to maintain pressure on an animal body supported on said table top while permitting pivotal movement of said crossbar to compensate for differences in thickness of the animal body at the locations of said animal holding arms, levers pivotally connected each at one end to said frame at said back side of the latter and extending through said frame beyond the front end thereof, means connecting said standard to one of said levers for movement of said animal holding arms away from said table top upon manual depression of the distal end of said one lever, means connecting said standard to the other of said levers for movement of Said animal holding arms away from said table top upon manua1 depression of the distal end of said other lever, and means on said frame engaged by said levers for releasably holding the latter in selected positions of adjustment relative to said frame.

3. A veterinarys operating table comprising a rectangular frame adapted to be disposed in upright position and having a front and a back side, a table top on the upper end of said frame, means on the back side 0f said frame providing mutually aligned guideways disposed in spaced apart relationship to each other, a standard slidably mounted in said guideways and extending above said table top, a crossbar pivotally connected intermediate its length to said standard above said table top, animal holding arms mounted each at one end on said crossbar and extending from said crossbar over said table top at respectively opposite sides of said standard, levers pivotally connected each at one end to said frame at said back side of the latter and extending through said frame beyond the front end thereof, means connecting said standard to one of said levers for movement of said animal holding arms toward said table top upon manual depression of the distal end of said one lever, means connecting said standard to the other of said levers for movement of said animal holding arms away from said table top upon manual depression of the distal end of said other lever, and means on said frame engaged by said levers for releasably holding the latter in selected positions of adjustment relative to said frame.

WILLIAM JOHN BEACH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 902,491 Ireland Oct. 27, 1908 1,114,992 Kalaher Oct. 27, 1914 1,241,514 Hill Oct. 2, 1917 1,842,015 Finson Jan. 19, 1932 

